Trinity Grading, Inc. is seeking a Senior Earthwork Estimator to price and win the grading work behind its earthwork division across San Diego County and the Inland Empire. This is a newly created position driven by division growth and long-term succession planning.
As the Senior Earthwork Estimator, you will own earthwork takeoffs and bids end to end: reading plans, specs, geotechnical reports, and RFPs, building your own quantities in AGTEK, and pricing complete, strategic bids in HCSS HeavyBid. This is a seat for an estimator who prices the crews, equipment, and production rates the company will actually run, not one who levels subcontractor quotes.
Position Overview
The Senior Earthwork Estimator is responsible for the full estimating cycle on Trinity's self-perform grading work: quantity takeoff, production-based pricing, import and export strategy, and bid strategy. The role combines independent bid ownership, market pricing knowledge, vendor and client relationship building, and, over time, mentorship of an additional estimator as the group grows.
This position reports to the Director of Sales, Estimating, and Project Management and works alongside the underground utility estimator on the combined grading and utility bids Trinity clients increasingly want under one roof. The role is based in Trinity's Temecula, California office, with limited jobsite travel tied to active bids.
Key Responsibilities
* Build your own earthwork quantities in AGTEK, including cut and fill, mass haul, and import and export.
* Price complete, competitive bids in HCSS HeavyBid using the company's assemblies and production rates.
* Read and interpret plans, specifications, geotechnical reports, and RFPs to build accurate, strategic bids.
* Carry multiple live bids at once across commercial, industrial, public works, military and federal, education, medical, and multifamily work.
* Own haul strategy, including trucking-broker relationships and import and export planning.
* Maintain current knowledge of San Diego and Inland Empire market pricing.
* Build and maintain active vendor, subcontractor, and client relationships in the region.
* Partner with the underground utility estimator to structure and price packaged grading and utility bids.
* Work within the company's established estimating systems, SOPs, and filing structure.
* Communicate bid strategy, risk, and pricing decisions clearly to leadership.
* Set the estimating standard for the earthwork group and mentor an additional estimator as the team grows.
Qualifications
Required
* 5+ years of earthwork or grading estimating experience with a self-perform grading or heavy-civil contractor.
* Self-perform estimating background, not a general-contractor-only background. You price crews, equipment, and production rates rather than leveling subcontractor quotes.
* Hands-on proficiency with AGTEK for earthwork takeoff. This tool is not trained here.
* Experience with HCSS HeavyBid or a directly comparable production-based bidding platform.
* Working knowledge of Southern California earthwork pricing, ideally San Diego County or the Inland Empire.
* Proven ability to carry two or more live bids at once and deliver complete, accurate bids on deadline.
* Comfortable bidding grading packages up to roughly $5 million, with regular work in the $1.5 million to $3 million range.
* Ability to complete a practical estimating exercise as part of the interview process.
* Must be local to, or able to commute daily to, Temecula, California. Relocation assistance is not provided.
Preferred
* HCSS HeavyJob experience for field and job costing.
* Public works and military or federal bidding experience, including prevailing wage, DIR, and bid bonds.
* Established trucking-broker, vendor, and client relationships in San Diego County or the Inland Empire.
* Experience with combined earthwork and wet-utility bid packages.
* Bluebeam, Trimble Business Center, or GPS machine-control and 3D modeling familiarity.
* ASPE membership or a CPE credential.
* BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management. Routinely waived for hands-on equivalent experience.
What Success Looks Like
Successful candidates are independent estimators who own their number from quantities to price. They are comfortable working heads down in an open, collaborative office, they cultivate vendor and client relationships patiently, and they understand how a bid plays out in the field.
Individuals who typically excel in this role:
* Have priced and won self-perform grading work in Southern California.
* Run their own takeoffs and take full ownership of the bid.
* Think strategically about import, export, and haul rather than treating it as a line item.
* Bid honest numbers and hold to them. Estimators who shade figures do not last here.
* Execute against clear goals without day-to-day management.
* Hold strong opinions respectfully and stay open to a better way.
* Want to build and eventually lead an estimating group.
Compensation & Benefits Highlights
* Quarterly Profit-Based Bonus: paid on project profitability
* Company Vehicle Provided
* Full Employee Medical Coverage
* 401(k) with company match up to 5%
* Paid Time Off
* Path to lead the earthwork estimating group as the division grows
Why Trinity Grading
Trinity Grading is a third-generation, family-owned, self-perform grading and civil construction contractor that has served Southern California since 1967. Trinity self-performs both earthwork and underground utility scopes, an increasingly rare combination that lets clients contract grading and wet utilities under one roof. The company runs roughly fifty people, is a certified Women-Owned Small Business, and carries approximately $30 million in bonding capacity.
Culture at Trinity is lived, not laminated. Four core values, Commitment to the Truth, Value Yourself, Value Others, and a Passion to Perform with Excellence, are trained on and recognized company-wide every quarter. Roughly eighty percent of Trinity's work is repeat business, including clients who choose Trinity when it is not the low bid. For the right estimator, this is a chance to own the pricing engine behind a growing division, build the estimating bench, and do it without a long commute.
Titus Talent Strategies is an approved partner of Trinity Grading, Inc. For additional details on this opportunity, please reach out directly to Chance Keith at [email protected].
Benefits:
* 401(k)
* 401(k) matching
* Health insurance
* Paid time off
* Company vehicle
* Quarterly profit-based bonus
Work Location: In person
Pay: From $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Temecula, CA 92593
